New brew benefits A.T. maintenance

A Bryson City brewery has chipped in $1,000 to support the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner program, whose mission is to preserve and improve the hiking experience along the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The recent donation by Nantahala Brewing Co., which uses water from the Smokies in its beer making, came from sales of its newly released Trail Magic Ale. This sixth installment of the Trail Magic Ale series is a 10.2 percent Rye Wine and an award-winning beer, named for the random acts of kindness many hikers experience along the A.T.

The brew company was founded in early 2009 and brewery operations and distribution began in May of 2010. For 15 years the Ridgerunner program has recruited individuals to provide visitor information, perform trail maintenance, advise hikers on trail conditions and provide vital real-time information for emergencies and possible problem bears along the 71 miles of A.T. that run through the Smokies.